Machine for finishing the edges of flexible materials



MACHINE FOR FINISHING vTHE EDGES 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIALS Filed Nov. 5.l 1919' 4 sheets-sheet 1 l 74 nml Dec. v18 19,23.-

L. J. VAN GUELPEN 4IVICHINE FOR FINISHING THE EDGES OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALS 'Filed Nov. 5, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flan/l.

"fff,

Dec. 18, {1923} 1,478,190 L. J. VAN GUELPEN v v MACHINE FOR FINISHING THE EDGES OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5 1919 fren.

lNvENmRf y a. '7. Y

1,478,190 L. J. VAN G`UEL`PENv 1 MACHINE FOR FINISHING THE EDGES OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALS n Filed-Nov. 5, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dee. I8, i923.

heidi@ LOUIS J. VAN GUELPEIBL OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR- FINISI-IING 'EI-IE EDG-ES 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIALS.

Application iled November 5, 1919.

T0 all 107mm t may concern.'

Beit known vthat I, Louis J. VAN GUEL- rnN, a citizen of vthe United States, residing at the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Machines for Finishing the Edgesof Flexible `Materials, of which vthe .following is a specification.

I have produced this machine for inishingthe edges of fiexible materials in order to carry into Vexecution the process for finishing the edges of flexible materials, and I will here describe this Vprocess and its steps so that this present invention will be more fully understood. I hereby describe said process as follows, `and it is fully set forth in my application fora patent ther-efor now iled in the United States Patent Oi'iice as Serial No. 326,658, from which I quote the following:

.My invention relates to simple, yet eilicient steps, to iinish the edges of -liexible materials of any kind. In the manufacture of certain parts of shoes, say for example, Vamps, uppers Aand tips, it has been usual to turn the edges or fold them to make-a finished job. I ypropose to yeliminate the folding operation and lfinish the edge, so that it will appear rounded or symmetrical in contour and to color or treat the edge with some fluid, and ythen vburnish the same. By ythis process I present a highly desirable finished-edge of an' 7 kind or shape desired and Iby treating the same with ra coloring fluid, I can retain the color of the fabric at the cut or raw edge; and if I desire to use a waterproohng ELl'luid or compound, I form a waterproof edge; and if I wish to strengthen the edge or make it harder or softer I may yuse some othersuitable fluid for such purpose. After this 4edge has thus 4been treated, to wit: formed and the proper fiiuid applied thereto, then y.I burnish said vedge to forma finished edge, which will appear polished and smoothand give the ksame appearance as the finished side. yof the stock out of which the shoe .is made.

My process consists-of the following steps or stages, and as I ain-describing the `operation of the process, I will refer to treating and -finishinga `patent leather vamp.

First-I take the vamp and `along' .its

Serial No. 335,944.

raw edge, which is to be finished, I apply any mechanism which will trim, cut, form, press or otherwise cause said edge to be molded or formed, for example, into a rounded edge form; secondly-I then apply to this rounded edge a highly lustrous waterproof iiuid, and thirdly-'I subject the edge thus treated, to a burnishing, or polishing element or operation, which brings Aout the bright lustrous vfinish or polish similar to the patent leather-color, and finish on the shoe Yand makes it smooth and uniform. In the present example the edge thus treated is as pliable as the patent leather Aitself and will not crack, break or scale oil, and appears tlie same as the rfinish of the leather itself.

In carrying out my process, I may use any mechanism for Yforming the edge of any desired shape, and may use any kind of the color matter, or fluid, or oily substance, or compound or composition of 7matt-er; and I may use any form of polishing or burnishing element or tool.

If it is desired Yto use the raw edge, and color or treat it as Vdesired with the fluid, and then burnish it, the forming operation first described Vis not used.

While I have herein specifically referred to leather edges, I may use my process in connection with any `other kind of flexible material .and I may use it in connection with any kind of articles 4of manufacture or parts of same.7

I preferably employ .the .machine herein described for carrying this process into effect as before herein first set forth.

In this machine I have combined elements for 'trimming and molding the edge .of the leather, treating the same, .and Vburnishing the same, in a unique and novel manner.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part .of this specification:

4lilig...1, isa side view of the machine, and its frame, the frame being shown in section,

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the machine, .the work support kbeing removed,

Fig. 3, -is section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, parts, however, being shown in elevation and broken away,

4t, is a section kon line 4 4 of Fig. 1.,

F ig. 5, is a section on lineof Fig. l,

Fig. 6, is an end view of the .presser foot mechanism,

normal.

F ig. 7, is a sectional view of the lower guide mechanism and the feed wheel,

Fig. 8, is an enlarged section of the cuttino and polishing tools,

iig. 9, is an enlarged sectional view of the cutting tool,

Fig. 10', is a section on line 10-10, of Fi 9,

4ig. 11, is a section of the inking mechanism,

Fig. 12, is a plan view of the lower 'guide mechanism and its levers,

Fig. 13, isan elevation of the lower guide mechanism, without its levers,

Fig. 14, is a section on line 14-14, of Fig. 12, i

F ig. 15, is a viewin elevation of the outer sleeve of the lower guide mechanism, and

Fig. 16, is an elevation of the inner sleeve of the lower guide mechanism.

1 will first describe the means for trimming, cutting or shaping the edges of the leather. For this purpose, l provide a spindle 1 carrying a knifeV or cutter head formed of a lower part 2 and an upper part 3, the upper part capable of being placed into the lower part, and these parts are held together by a slide stud 4 passing into a slot 5 in the lower part 2; this slot allows the knife or cutter' head parts to move toward or away from each other to accommodate varying thicknesses of leather between the cuttinlg edges of the knives or cutters. The lower and upper parts of this knife or cutter mechanism mayl be termed a cutter head, and the lower part may be called the outer element and the upper part the inner element of the cutter head; the inner part sliding in the outer part. The, cutter head is .held on the spindle 1 by the pin 6. To keep the upper (or inner) knife part 3 in normal position, a spring 7 is provided around the spindle 1 which abuts against said upper (or inner) part 3 at its top and abuts against a buffer or polisher placed on the spindle 1 above the cutter head; this spring 7 is stressed when the leather is placed between the cutting edges 8 and 9 of the parts 2 and 3, and when cut or formed, the sprino' relaxes and the parts are again dt may be stated that some real thin pieces of leather might not stress the spring 7. The cutting edges 8 and 9 of the knife parts 2 and 3, trim, cut or shape the edge of the leather to suit the particular job being worked upon, and they may be changed and other shaped cutting knives be used to cut and shape other styles. y

The next step in the method, is to color, wet, oil or place liquid of some kind on this vcut or shaped edge, or some plastic composition or matter may be used. To carry out this step I employ a receptacle 10 placed on a swinging arm 11, pivoted to the frame `of the machine at 12. To the receptacle 10,

l connect a hollow tube 13 which carries at its end a well 14, into which l place a felt plug 15; the fluid or material to be used is marked 16 and passes from the receptacle 10 through hollow arm 13 into the well 14, to saturate the plug 15, a valve 17 controlling the flow of the material 16.

After the edge of the leather has beerL trimmed or shaped, and treated with mate-- rial as just set forth, l burnish, polish or buff said formed edge, and use, preferably, the following means fer doing such work; on the spindle 1, l place a burnishing, polishing or butling tool, roll, or wheel, in the present instance, formed of a multiplicity of discs or rings 18, made of felt or any other suitable material or fabric, which are placed between a collar 19 and a flanged housing or bearing 20, the flanged housing screwing into the collar 19, the housing be ing` held on the spindle by pin 21.

New that l have described the various parts or steps of the machine used in carrying out my method of finishing the edges of materials, l will ldescribe how they arc operated and used. The frame of the ma chine is marked this frame supporting a cross piece 31. At the top of the frame l place a work support or plate on which l support an upwardly and forwardly eX' tending arm 33. ln bearings 34, and 36, l support the drive shaft37, carrying drive pulley 38. On shaft 37, l' place a spiral 39 which meshes Vwith a spiral 40 on short shaft 41, which carries a worm 42 meshing with worm wheel 43, on a shoriJ shaft 44, on which is placed the feed wheel. 45, thus this said feed wheel is turned when the shaft 37 is operating. Vlhe feed wheel 45 extends slightly above the face of worh support or plate 32, (see particularly Fig. 4). Y

The spindle 1 is supported in bearings 4c and 47 (see particularly Fig. @n they main drive shaft 3?' l place spiral 48 which meshes with spiral 49 on spii'idle 1. i At tl lower end of the spindle 1, l place a slidii bearing 50, moved up and down by a rach 51 rigidly attached to bearing 50 and meshing with a gear 52 attached to a shaft 53, held in bearings 54 on support 31, and said shaft is rocked or oscillated by a lever 541, to move the spindle up to bring the cutting means into alignment with theV work sup port 32 and down to bring the bufiing or burnishing means in alignment with the said work support 32, (see particularlylP ig. 2). At the end of this lever 541, l place a centering pin and handle 55 which pin enters a hole (not shown) in the frame to properly align the cutting and burnishing` tools with the work support or plate 32, which is known as the feed plate.

l will now describe the presser foot mech-- anism which operates above the work supinf/'aree iliary arm GG, provided with a Cain race 6l, (see particularly Fig'. l). ln the arins 57 carrying at its rlhis will and 58 l support a sha t 3 lower extremity block or head G3. block or head carries a fork 64C which be hereinafter described. rlhis block also carries a stud G which passes into and through earn race 6l and also through earn roller 66, which operates in the cani race.

- At the top the shaft 62 is provided with a removable spool G7 into the web ofwhich lits the fork end of the lever 68, fulcruined at 69 on arni 33; this lever extends backward and downward, terniinatingl in a finger hold 70. ln the shaft G2 l place aV collar 7l and between this collar and the lower face of the bracket 58 and around the said shaft 62, l place a spring 72. ln the bracket arms 57 and 58, l also carry and support a shaft 73, which operates up and down and revolves loosely in said bracket arnis. it the lower end of shaft 73 l connect a presser foot, presser wheeler disc 74. The fork 6% passes in a groeve in each side of the hub 75 of the presser wheel. To the forward and of the fork Gill attach a guide arm 7G, having,` a foot 77. The bracket 56 is pivoted at 78 to the forward extension 79 of the erin 33 (see Fig; G). The shaft 62 and its parts, and the shaft 73 carrying the presser wheel, are moved up and down by manipulatingthe lever G8, and by reason of cain roller 66 passing over the earn race 6l, the parts just set forth are inovedV up and down, and they also inove outwardly and inwardly together with the bracket 56 on the pivotal point 78; more particularly, first inoving` upwardly, then outwardly and then again uiiwardly, and in the downwarr ni'oveinent,

lirst going downwardly then inwardly and then downwardly; the peculiar shape of the cani and cain race permitting this movenient. These part-s which have just been described swinging` or movingy in and out, and up and down, are set at an incline or angle as shown in Figs. l and 6, and they form a pressure device for pressing dow the inaterial onto the feed wheel l.

l will now describe the lower feedingand guiding means, which are below the werk support or plate 32. l provide a bearing or supporting' flanged sleeve, coniposed of flange 89 and sleeve 90 suitably united together; the flange 8G is screwed to the work support or plate E32 and lies flush therewith, except at the point 82 which is recessed, and at this point feed wheel or roller l5 extends above the level free of said flange 80, at which point, at each side of the recess 82, it is flared upward at the top at 83 and beveled at the lower'part SLi. llt the point 85 at eachside, at the rear of recess 82 and at the border of the centra-l hole 8G in the flange, l place two inwardly extending lingers. These fingers are raised at their upper surfaces to the same plane as the raised parts 83. At oneside of the hole 86 the flange is cut away at 87, to form space for the lower guide pin 88 to travel, which will be more particularly hereinafter set forth. The flange 80, has near its inner eege, adjacent to the central hole 86, but somewhat larger in diameter, a downwardly extending connecting` extension part 8l, cut awa-y at 89 as shown, to inake rooin for the feed wheel or roller 45. The sleeve part 90 of the flanged sleeve extends downwardly therefrom and is rigidly connected to said flange through the medium of extension 8l. ln this sleeve 90, l place thel race way or earn race 91. In this sleeve 90, l place another sleeve At the top edge of the sleeve 92, l place an upwardly extending `guide pin 88 which operates in the passage way 87 in flange 80. At the bottoni edge of the sleeve 92, l connect an outwardly e.\;o;nein, lever provided with a slot 94, and this lever oscillates the sleeve 92. To the sleeve 92 at one side, l place a stud 95, and cani roller 96 is loosely connected thereon. This cani roller operates in the cani race 9i in sleeve 90. This cani roller 96, operating` in the cani race (on account of the peculiar shape of said cani race), raises the sleeve 92 up and down in the sleeve 90, consequently the pin 88 is raised and lowered. The edge of the leather or other material to be burnished, is guided by the pin 88, by reason of the said leather being pushed against and held` against the saine, thus keeping the leather 'n alignmentv and preventing; its crowding,- into the cutting and burnishine tools, as the cutting and burnishing is proceeding.

The short lever 98 is operated by a short lever 97 fulcruined at point 98, a stud 99 en the lever 97 operating` in slot 9-l, in the lever This lever is loosely connected at point 100 to a handle lever lOl, fulcrunied at 102. By pushing the handle lever 10i to the right, causes a reverse action on lever 97, this in turn oscillates lever 93, through niediuin of the stud 99 moving in slot 94C. These levers are thrown back into normal position by suitable spring action (not shown).

ln operating-the machine, the spindle l, which carries a cutter head forined of knife carrying parts 2 and 3 and the burniShing;` tool or element 18 is put into operation, so that it will revolve at high speed by operating drive shaft 37 which nieshes with mechanism heretofore described in detail; the feed roller or wheel d5 beingalso revolved by shaft 87 and its connections as heretofore set forth in detail. lie spinlll) dle l 'is raised and lowered by meansof gear and rack means as heretofore set forth; it is raised and lowered to place the cutting means or the polishing element in alignment and register the same with the Work support or plate 32. rlhis raising and lowering is done by means of the lever and center pin raising or lowering the spindle by moving` or any other material, is then placed between the presser Wheel 74 and the feed Wheel 1-5, and automatically fed through, the cutting knives 8 and 9 trimming and forming the edge of the desired contour or shape. In placing the material in position to be fed through and worked upon by the knives, it is guided against the pin 88, which keeps the material from crowding into the knives. rlhis pin is operated through a system of levers 93, 97 and lOl, which are manually operated as heretofore described. This pin can be brought up into Ioperative position, or it can be moved below the plate when its use is not reouired.

The presser Wheel 7st presses against the material to keep it on the feed Wheel 45, that proper feeding may result and the guide 7'? keeps the material from buckling at the edges, or turning up at said edges, as it is brought in contact with the cutting or burnishing tools. When short or small inside curves are present in the Work being operated upon, the guide pin 88 need not be used, as such curves will hug and remain in proper position in relation to the cutting tools and burnishing tools. The p-resser means are pivoted to swing at point 78, and through manipulation of lever 68, can be moved up and `down and in and out, heretofore set forth. The same feeding and pressing mechanism are used in connection with the cutting and polishing or burnishing elements. rihese means for feeding the material t-o the cutting knives and to the burnisliing element are fully set forth in an application which I made for improvements in burnishing machines, iiled in the United States Patent Oilice, Serial No. 335,516, and reference is hereby made thereto for a more detailed description. After the edges have been trimmed or cut and properly shaped by the knives, I take a batch of the articles Vso finished, to the device l0, Where the edges are passed over a plug 15 carrying the material to be placed onto said edges. Then the burnishing tool 18 is brought into alignment with Work support or plate 32, and-the batch of articles are polished or burnished and finished to the desired degree.

By trimming the edges with knives or cutting devices or abrasion means, and treatl ing the edge thus shaped and formed as specified, and then giving said edge a burnished or polished surface and appearance, I provide a nev7 article of manufacture; as for example, if shoe vamps are thus treated, said vamp will have an edge thereon, not now present in Vamps of this character, and the same may be said of other articles of manufacture in which such an edge is needed or desirable; especially is this true when flexible leather, (for example, patent leather), or such like ilexible material is used.

I Wish to be understood as not confining myself to the speciiied mechanism herein set forth in describing mymachine, inasmuch as the same is capable of considerable modication and change, Without departing from the principle of my invention, and I further Wish to be understood that claiming that such modications and changes Will still fall Within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a machine of the character described, a revolving spindle, a Work snpporting plate, means for feeding and holding the material to said spindle, said spindle capable of being raised and lowered, and guide means for guiding the edge of the material being worked upon. n

2. In a machine of the character described, a revolving spindle, a Work supporting plate, said spindle capable of being moved up anddown, and carrying means for cutting and means for polishing the edge of a flexible material.

3. In a machine of the character described, a Work supporting plate, and a revolving spindle, said spindle having a cutter head thereon and a burnishing tool, and capable of being moved up and down to align either said cutter head or said burnishin tool With said work supporting plate.

l. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting plate and a revolving spindle, said spindle having a cutter head thereon and a burnishing tool, and capable of being moved up and downto align either said cutter head or said burnishing tool With the Work 'supporting plate, and means for feeding material to said cutter head and to said burnishing tool.

5. In a machine of the character described, a Work supporting plate and a revolving spindle, said spindle having a cutter head thereon and a burnishing tool, and capable of being moved up and down to align either said cutter head or said burnishing tool With the Work supporting plate, and means for feeding material to said cutter head and to said burnishing tool, and movable means for exerting' pressure on the material Whilethe same is fed to the spindle.

Uil

ltltl 6. n a machine of the Character clescribed, a revolving,` spindle and a Work supporting plate, saicl'spinclle carrying means for trimming and means for polishingthe edge of flexible material, and means for guiding the material and pressing upon the same as it is being worked upon, said means being capable of continual operation, anfl manually thrown out of operative position, at Will.

In testimony whereof, I aiiX my signature at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 18th day of September, 1919.

LOUIS J. VAN GUELPEN. 

